National River & Recreation Area
Minnesota

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MRC Map 21: Nininger

River mile: 819 - 816

Towering bluffs drop straight into the river here, and the river itself is broad and often windy. Outside the channel, most of the river's biodiversity has been lost and all that's left is a vast, shallow lake, but fishing is still good. Spring Lake was named for the springs along the base of the bluffs along its south shore.

Ignatius L. Donnelly, a popular author and political figure in the 19th century, tried to start a utopian community at Nininger (817.7 W) in 1857. The experiment failed. Now the only traces of the community are a few buildings and two interpretive signs.

This stretch of the river was dominated by bottomland forest before Lock and Dam 2 flooded them. The stumps remain, presenting an underwater hazard to boaters.